An Astrological Fairy Tale: The Evil Fairy, Prince Charming and the April 19th NY Primary

Prince Charming wears more than one mask in this important election. Is he the dragon slayer? The crusader? The revolutionary? Or is she the diplomat?

No surprises—the candidates are going at each other hammer and tongs in these days before the April 19^th New York Primary election. It’s not hard to see why—the number of delegates at stake is “yuuuuuggggge,” as candidate Bernie Sanders might say. Feeling right at home in New York—if not (in Clinton’s case) on New York subways—the Dems have tip-toed into the mud with their tiff over who’s more “qualified” for the presidency. The Republicans are cringing over Ted Cruz's disparaging attitude towards “New York values”—a loaded phrase among conservatives meaning Cruz is way out of his comfort zone in this race.

Which brings me to the topic of this post: the April 19^th New York primary chart itself, set for the state capitol in Albany, for poll opening time. Setting aside biwheels with particular candidates for now, with this post we’ll explore the election chart on its own, which should open a window on the deep issues at stake in this race. As it turns out, there’s a real fairy tale at the heart of this race and the princess has many suitors!

Once upon a time…

First, I have to extend many thanks to Arielle Guttmann for suggesting the Sleeping Beauty fairy-tale analogy to Eris (here, known as the Evil Fairy). See this week's The Mountain Astrologer blog for her brilliant discussion about Eris and the geodetic U.S. Sibly chart!

Among the important features of this chart are three key retrograde planets, Jupiter (Virgo), Saturn and Mars (both in Sagittarius). This will be the first primary of the season featuring this significant convergence, so that in itself is worth consideration.

The other super interesting features that tend to be glossed over in biwheel interpretations are Chiron’s position relative to the Nodal axis and the very interesting placement of Eris, the disruptive dwarf planet now transiting at 23°+Aries. Eris has received a lot of attention lately[1]—in this “fairy tale” election, she’s nursing a grudge and Prince Charming has a real thicket of thorns to slash through!

Natal Chart: New York Primary Election, April 19^th, 6:00 a.m. (poll opening), Albany, NY.  

1^st house Sun in Aries conjunct Asc and (widely) Eris and Uranus; Uranus conjoins Venus and both square Pluto (Capricorn). Uranus has been creeping up on Eris (which has a much longer orbit) for some time now—it is now within 2°+ degrees of that disruptive force. Apart from her roots in Greek mythology, Eris evokes an archetypal disruptive “fairy/witch” character who has shown up in tales from the 1300s. Known as the Evil Fairy in Perrault’s original 1600s version of Sleeping Beauty, this character had a bone to pick with the local royal couple (i.e., politicians and government). The royals invited every fairy in the kingdom to their infant daughter’s christening, but they didn’t invite her.

So, as in the original Sleeping Beauty tale, the Evil Fairy disrupted the infant princess’s celebration by showing up unannounced and laying a sleeping curse on her. If a Princess represents the future of that royal family and the future wellbeing of their kingdom, a curse that keeps Prince Charming away (1^st and 7^th houses are always connected) by putting the entire kingdom to sleep is a pretty heavy disruption. (Are the Mars, Jupiter and Saturn retrogrades an issue here, we might wonder)?

If we factor Uranus into the picture, this already volatile conjunction at the Ascendant becomes a revolutionary convergence, expressing the intense pressure for change that has built up over long periods (Uranus and Eris orbits, cardinal Uranus-Pluto square). With a lively Aries Sun in the 1^st house, this election is bound to be a rowdy affair—probably another record turn-out, as we’ve seen in other states. 

Some disruptions may result from the turnout alone, but any attempts to manipulate or suppress the vote will be monitored by the 6^th house Moon in Virgo—exactly inconjunct this Sun. We might ask here whether change-producing disruptions or change-repressing disruptions will carry the day.

Pluto’s 9^th house placement conjunct the Capricorn MC here reflects the heavy expectations we have for this ideologically charged race, not to mention the many power players with vested interests in this election. Pluto’s square to disruptive energies at the Ascendant could indicate power plays that transcend boundaries—perhaps Pope Francis’s invitation to Bernie Sanders that same week?. The merging of religion and politics in Ted Cruz’s campaign rhetoric could be represented here, as well. We’ll consider more of these vested interests ahead.

Mutable T-square spanning 8^th-5^th-11th: Mars Rx conjoins Saturn Rx (Sagittarius) and both square Neptune (Pisces) opposite Jupiter Rx (Virgo). This Mars Rx rules the chart’s Aries ascendant, meaning the energies of this t-square are tied into whatever disruptions are triggered by Uranus-Eris, etc., described above. The houses spanned by this t-square are key to the power dynamics of any election: the 5^th house reflects personal expression (the vote)—probably a healthy turnout with Jupiter here, but Jupiter Rx (especially square Saturn Rx) could complicate the process. Jupiter is opposed to Neptune in the 11^th house of public expression (media, “official results,” public organizations and their agendas), all square 8^th house support systems (party machines, ground organizations/volunteers, funding sources). With three retrogrades, the potential for change will be facing that fairy tale wall of thorns.

Mutable t-squares normally destabilize everything they touch because the obstacles typical of a t-square undermine control. Here’s the retrogrades could contain that instability. Normally, creative energies abound in a mutable t-square, but they tend to be difficult to implement or manifest in a workable form. With Neptune involved here, and watchdog energies asleep (Rx) at the wheel, a confused, deceptive narrative could hold sway. Voting irregularities are more than possible and organizational resources could be tied up or absent when needed (both Mars and Saturn are Rx). 

We’ll see if the pro-Bernie “march” some are planning is allowed to go forward, for instance. One way or another, since the point opposite the focal planets for the t-square holds a clue to resolving any obstacles, focusing on the democratic values underlying the American election process will be key.

Saturn Rx (Sagittarius) trines Venus and Uranus (Aries); Saturn Rx semi-sextiles Pluto (Capricorn). Disruptions caused by unconventional values and relationships could be highlighted here. It’s not difficult to imagine, for instance, that New York’s LGBT community could drum up opposition to Ted Cruz’s campaign. Attempts may be made to keep such an effort under wraps (Venus-Uranus are in the 12^th house here), and with Saturn retrograde, it will be interesting to see whether legal challenges arise. The disruptions will not be limited to such issues or constituencies, however, and it’s quite possible legal/government authorities (Saturn-Pluto) will be needed to contain some situations.

Earth Grand Trine: Mercury (Taurus) trines Jupiter Rx (Virgo) trines MC-Pluto (Capricorn). Although grand trines are said to freely circulate same-element energies throughout a chart, they don’t exist in isolation from that chart. Here, I believe the strong earthy circuit of energy expresses the very valid material concerns of the voters (the so-called “bread and butter” issues). Mercury in the 1^st relates to these economy-related values and issues so essential to the election this year; these concerns will be expressed in the vote (Jupiter Rx in the 5^th), but adding to the retrograde challenge, the “voices” of both Mercury and Jupiter are subject to Pluto’s heavy influence in the 9^th, conjunct the MC.

Will “Big Money” (global finances) continue to carry the day over the public’s financial concerns? The intense focus on the immigration issue and the pros and cons of international trade agreements are also accounted for in this 9^th house Pluto—both Trump and Sanders have highlighted the deep connections between local concerns and what happens globally, and those concerns are reflected in this chart. 

One glaring probability is that New York’s financial industry (Pluto) will throw its overwhelming clout against Bernie Sanders and his plan to break up the banks. Can the economic justice agenda Sanders will address at the Vatican next week outweigh the finance industry’s hold on public sentiment? It doesn’t appear that merging his message with the Pope’s many pronouncements about the excesses of capitalism will hurt Sanders in this election—there will be a 5^th house Jupiter audience for his compassionate 11^th house Neptunian agenda. 

But it’s not likely the Plutonian world of global finance will simply throw in the towel and agree to be broken up by Sanders’ policies. Now, that would be a disruption worthy of the Aries convergence discussed above!

If Trump is treated more generously by New York finance than Sanders is, it will reflect his billionaire clout. One way or another, the issue may be decided by superdelegates—the other, related Plutonian power players implicated by this chart.

Chiron (Pisces) conjoins North Node; Jupiter (Virgo) widely opposes Chiron and conjoins the South Node (Virgo). One of the reasons this election season has felt so out of control is the very real sense of woundedness on the part of the electorate, and a crying need for more compassionate public policies. Chiron’s 11^th house placement here reflects the robust public debate this overall election has stimulated on that topic. The economy has simply not served millions of people since well before the Recession, and the wounds are still fresh: angry voters are still feeling the destruction of the “American dream” (Neptune at 22°+ Virgo in the US Sibly chart) in a sea of unsustainable finances (Chiron in Pisces here) because very few of the structural economic policies that enabled that Wall Street and housing market collapses have changed.

The flood of capital flowing out of the country took people’s jobs with it, too—those still-fresh wounds have informed campaign rhetoric about immigration policies, international trade and regulations on global businesses. The position of the Nodal axis in this chart suggests these are matters whose time has come in New York—perhaps the reason New York and other states are rushing to raise their minimum wage levels, thinking that may head off the more radical reforms that Sanders and Trump want. Populism is driven by pain and survival instinct—we won’t see the end of this drive for some time to come.

Sun (Aries) exactly inconjuncts the Moon (Virgo). We certainly can’t ignore this aspect—the closest aspect formed by any two points in this chart. As such, this inconjunct points to a frustrating disconnect between Election governance (Sun) and working People (6^th house Moon). This disconnect could play out in as many ways as there are candidates, and then some, but suffice to say here that there will probably be at least one challenge issued to the Election Board in charge. With Mars Rx disposing the Aries Sun, it’s likely the job of administration will fall short in some way; this can only be reinforced by Saturn’s additional retrograde.

And now, for the fairy tale ending…

Chiron (Pisces) semi-sextiles Uranus-Eris (Aries). This frustrating/volatile aspect reinforces that a deep sense of woundedness will be carried into this primary election, but the semi-sextile suggests that things may not get too out of control. The Evil Fairy (Eris) is a catalyst for change (Uranus), but the form this change will take is far from determined because Prince Charming wears more than one mask in this important election. Is he the one carrying public anger as his sword, vowing to slay the dragons? Or is he the crusader who patiently waits for the dragon slayer to fall on that sword?

Or, is the Prince the revolutionary, awakening the young “Princess” of our future with his zeal? Not to be underestimated, is the Prince actually a she, the consummate diplomat and stateswoman who is “qualified” to carry on where the royals left off?

One consistent theme throughout this primary season has been anger against the Establishment—remember, the Evil Fairy would have been happy to play nice if she had been invited to the party. So, it appears she may just crash this one!

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Raye Robertson is a practicing astrologer, writer and former university English instructor. A graduate of the Faculty of Astrological Studies (U.K.), Raye focuses on mundane, collective-oriented astrology, with a particular interest in current affairs, culture and media, the astrology of generations, and public concerns such as education and health. Several of her articles on these topics have been featured in The Mountain Astrologer and other publications over the years. Raye can be contacted by comment here, or at: robertsonraye@gmail.com. 

© Raye Robertson 2016. All rights reserved.